I go to Rialto on a semi-regular basis. Most of my experiences here have been good, although they…read moreoften seem short staffed (or the only staff on hand cannot perform all the tasks needed to serve someone). They don't have frozen coke and more often than not don't have Nut Top ice-creams (my favs) but they do have Kapiti ice-cream which serves as a great alternative. For those wanting an alcoholic beverage, they also have quite a range in their bar and bar snacks to match. Keep an eye out for deals - they often have special events or cheaper priced nights!

Rialto cinema is an attractive cinema that offers an extensive range of screenings, bringing to…read moreAuckland otherwise overlooked film festivals. Chirpy French pop played matched to their current French film festival while the current Hollywood hype was advertised beside screening from The Metropolitan Opera. And it is ONLY because of this range in movies that I would give this venue anything above a 1 star rating. While paying almost double the amount of other cinemas, expect service that is nothing short of a teenage bowling alley. Uncleared tables. A caffeinated decaf coffee. Ignored during a 10 minute interval in the movie. No to mention our exquisite opera was preluded with music by a rapper and a Spice Girl. Staff seemed to lack product knowledge, management or incentive so that their lethargic attitude left a bad taste in our mouth and an empty space in our bellies. Now if only there was some way of downloading movies and viewing them in the comfort of your own home...

Great cinema and the cafe food is amazing, especially the fish & chips! Would definitely recommend.read more

I love this cinema. I think my love for it comes from a combination of reasons…read more 1. Because it's right next to a food court so it's super easy to have a feed before seeing the movie. 2. Because the self serve kiosks are so quick and easy - queues are so 2005. 3. There are bathrooms both upstairs and downstairs for your convenience. 4. There are always lots of movies playing and lots of different time slots. 5. There's a gaming area where you can test out your basketball shots and your car racing skills before the movie. 6. The food deals are really good. I always grab myself a pop'n'coke combo. 7.The chairs are super comfy! 8. CHEAP TUESDAYS - $10 movies. 9. The staff are friendly 10. The picture and sound quality is perfection. I love seeing movies and my boyfriend and I see almost every movie that comes out. Of all the cinemas on the shore this one comes out clearly on top. Love it.

'Saturday night at the movies, who cares what picture you see'. Well, at Albany Cinemas it really…read moredoesn't matter if the movies are good or not because the cinema itself it so good. The chairs are comfy, the food's good and the screens are awesome. We go here for family outings every now and again and it works out so well because there's loads of parking and a food hall for everyone to have their different choices. The 3D cinemas here are so good. We saw The Hobbit here and I was blown away by the quality. They also have a great system when you can book online or otherwise book at the self service kiosks when you get there. It definitely saves a whole lot of time before the movie and means you can relax even before you get into the theatre. This gets a thumbs up from me.

On a rainy day in Auckland, I decided to take advantage of the weather and see a movie -…read moreOppenheimer. The biggest cinema for mainstream movies is Event Cinemas, part of a large commercial complex right in the heart of CBD. Talking with people, this area still hasn't fully recovered since the pandemic, which speaks to why the complex feels relatively empty and quiet. I even had difficulty finding the main entrance as most of the door area that used to have restaurants and bars are empty and looked closed. Entering off the street and going down, only to go up massive escalators inside, I finally found what I was looking for. The theatres are on multiple floors depending on the style of screen (traditional, IMAX, etc.). The ticket lobby and main concession stand is on the third level. Tickets can be purchased off touch screens in the lobby, where you choose your desired seat. Most theatres have recliners or even full day beds, prices depend on time and type of seat. After purchasing my ticket, I went up another level where usually a ticket taker would be, but the table was empty and remained so. I found it odd there was no one checking - I guess trust (or cameras) were ensuring you are a paying customer. There are bars and concession stands in other areas but all were closed on my visit; maybe only peak time they're open. The screen itself was great quality; seats comfortable, prices reasonable for modern movies, and everything was clean. I was happy taking a break from the city for a few hours and would see a movie here again.

While on vacation decided to see a couple of movies with my daughter on the rainy days. The…read morecinemas here are different than back home in the USA. There are multiple floors and on each is a different set of theaters. The rooms are not very big, and beware the previews are about 30min long! Also, the bathroom is not nearby, so make sure to use it before entering the movie. There are multiple fast food restaurants on the first floor. Overall a good place to come on a rainy day.

Unequivocally my FAVOURITE venue in Auckland! There is something quite magical about this place…read more From the beautifully themed entrance lobby to the star covered ceiling in the theatre itself the Civic never fails to impress. Their line up of musicals, orchestral performances, theatre and Opera are the best of the best too! Close to public transport and parking close by it is an easy place to get to as well which is a convenient bonus

I have a special bond with the Civic, when I was a kid my grandmother worked there and I would…read moreoften get to go into the Civic and the Wintergarden theatres and run through the back halls and rooms, this was during the days of the St James theatre when no-one had even heard of a multiplex. I've been up to the top and seen the stars, I've played with the glowing eyed lions. In part I think the bond I have with the Civic is a little more intense but no less symbolic then the one the rest of Auckland has with it. The Civic is possibly more iconic than the Auckland Town Hall and it seems to sit astride the heart of the Auckland CBD. Inside the Civic, the entrance hall remains mostly unchanged with the exception of the candy bar that used to sell Tangy Fruits, with a glass of wine or beer being the order of the day. Yes folks the Civic ascended from its cinema roots and matured to be an actual Theatre. In all its changes, its not lost its Grandiose 1940's charm and while the seats are still packed in there, you can sit in the Civic and know you're part of Auckland's long history with the Arts. Wellington is still considered the cultural capital of New Zealand, but its got competition here.

Sylvia Park Hoyts is one of my fav movie places to meet people from all over town, because it's so…read moreconvenient to get to, either via train, bus or car as it's right next to the Southern Motorway. (and you don't need to grapple with city traffic) The staff here are always incredible, the cinemas are clean and comfy, and they have special prices if you go in the morning or on Tuesday. (think it's about $11) Their La Premiere seats are awesome too if you have a special occasion to splurge out on. I was here last Sunday when our mini earthquake hit, and the building is so strong, I honestly thought it was just the surround sound system making the seats move. haha If you want to watch a movie in a safe, clean and welcoming environment, go here!

Hoyts Sylvia Park has been my regular movie theatre for over five years now. By far the most…read moresuperior theatre in the South/East Auckland areas, its smack bang in the middle of Auckland AND the largest shopping centre in the country, making it easy to get to whereever you are in the city. While people may see this as an negative, I love that this cinema gets busy. I'm the sort of person that would rather see a movie in a full theatre that with a few people, so Sylvia always does the trick. The seats in the theatres are comfortable, there's enough leg room for a basketball player and the arm rests are movable if you're into that sort of thing. I find its always worth it to pay a little extra for the Xtreme Screen because those regular sized screen just don't cut it anymore (maybe Chris Rock was right about women not being able to back in lifestyle...). The La Premiere seats at Sylvia are great too and while its on the pricey side its a great and very comfy way to make that date or girls night out a little more special (...okay, he was right). Sylvia Park also hosts a lot of the midnight screenings for some films and those usually go off without a hitch. Do yourself a favour and book your tickets online or purchase them early from the cinema to avoid the inevitable long queue that will await you!

Impressive theater in a village setting with friendly service. We went during the daytime on a week…read moreday, so it wasn't too busy. Everything was clean and orderly.

This is one of the nicest cinemas I've ever visited -- it's part of a small mini-mall that's wide…read moreopen and spacious. There's a wine bar attached to the restaurant and you can bring your wine in with you. Seats are super comfortable - screens are pretty good. Felt very comfortable and enjoyed my evening there. Everyone was super friendly.

Event Cinemas is Manukau has a prime location of being right in the mall, so if you're feeling like…read morecatching a flick after lunch at the food court, it's perfect. It's well put together with split levels for ticket buying and cinema-going. While there's tonnes of space in the main foyer, it can be a tight squeeze upstairs waiting to get into your cinema as there'e minimal waiting space. The cinemas themselves having comfy seats and are well-spaced out, the only thing about Events is the lack of Xtreme Screen in comparison to Hoyts. Sizes aside, the cinemas are good quality. There are snack kiosks just outside the cinema doors now so if you'e craving something during the film it saves running downstairs and waiting in line- so handy! What draws me back to Events every single time will be that the food is much cheaper than other joints like Hoyts who don't actually display their prices. That AND they do my favourite choc top with nuts, always so delicious!! I'd recommended Events to family solely for this reason because you get more bang out of your buck with the combos here.

It's been a while since we last visited this cinema complex. There seems to be so much space here…read more You also have the Gaming Arcade to kill time until your movie starts, and plenty of refreshment options available too. We found the seats comfortable and spacious, which was welcome during a 2 hour plus movie. The theatre itself was clean and tidy too. Although the cinema is upstairs, there is a lift for wheelchair access. I would ring prior to visiting to ensure someone is on hand for assistance.

A local, independent cinema in the Auckland suburb of Balmoral. You'll find it situated on…read moreDominion Road, just past the Balmoral Road intersection, and by all the amazing (and cheap) chinese restaurants. It doesn't look much from the outside (my flatmate did in fact wonder what kind of movies were shown there) but walk inside to find a beautiful foyer with chandeliers. A range of snacks are on offer, such as Movenpick ice creams and you can even enjoy a wine with your movie if you so desire. This one cinema wonder certainly delivers on its luxurious surroundings. The plush purple chairs are very comfortable, while the curtain across the screen is a sign of a bygone era. It is a nice change from the cinema mulitplexes that we have become so accustomed to. While the ticket prices haven't gone back to $5, there is still a Tuesday night special (adults $10.50). So make a night of it, perhaps visit a restaurant across the road for some homemade dumplings and then make your way to the cinema for a movie. Thank me later for that great idea.

I'm strong believer that whoever redeveloped the Capitol Cinema was a bit of a romantic. From the…read moremoment you enter the cinema and dodge the entrance to where people are trying to scale ridiculous height, you begin to climb the stairs up to a different time. They have captured the essence so well of what it was like to go to the cinema, not from my childhood days but possibly my parents as well. The kiosk where you can pick up your treats (which I relatively well priced compared to the big mulitplex cinemas) has welcoming staff and you feel like they're genuinely interested in the movies being played. The seating is comfortable, not a great amount of leg room for someone over six foot, but enough to get through a movie without having to fall into some crazy yoga position. The quality of the screens and audio are as good as you would find in any "new" cinema. Overall, if you want to take a loved one for a romantic night out to the cinema, this is the place. Oh and either before or after you enjoy your time at The Capitol, I recommend you fill up on dumplings across the road at New Flavour.